"Connie cuts to the chase again, taking complex theory and research and transforming it into ready-to-use lessons!"
— Barbara Nizza, First-grade Teacher

"No matter what your reading or writing program, you need to understand this book and apply these strategies across every subject."
— Kathy Duncan, Principal

"Elementary teachers use mini-lessons, often 3-4 in one day, as they teach the language arts block. Dierking provides reading and writing mini-lessons which intertwine the two areas of instruction in order to reinforce the literacy process. The mini-lesson instructions are displayed in an easy format which needs little preparation beyond what the primary teacher already has. In the first three chapters, the author provides teachers with background knowledge on the reciprocal development process of early writing and reading, the basics for creating a connected classroom and finally, the how-to's of teaching a writing/reading workshop.

The mini-lessons are categorized according to operational, print awareness, foundations, and craft — categories which were developed by Dierking and Sherra Jones to "insure a balance in K-2 writing instruction" (p. 50). Operational mini-lessons provide writers with skills needed to succeed in the writer's workshop such as setting goals, choosing pieces to publish, editing writing pieces, and communicating with partners. Print-awareness mini-lessons are exactly that: exposure to print through letters, sounds and words. Dierking points out that these mini-lessons provide students with abilities to move through the phonics continuum.

The final categories of mini-lessons, foundations and craft, "provide support for all writing" (p. 120) and "moving students' writing beyond basic proficiency," (p. 127) respectively. Various foundation mini-lessons include using pictures and words to tell a story, writing with a purpose, and labeling a diagram. Craft mini-lessons prepare the K-2 student with strategies to successfully raise their writing above the ordinary.

The author fulfills her goal of providing an assortment of mini-lessons to reinforce literacy processes. The simple mini-lesson format works well due to Dierking's commitment to provide a reading connection, materials needed and a prep step for each mini-lesson. In all, 52 mini-lessons are presented across the four categories; the mini-lesson format includes a five-step process of making a reading connection, teaching, active engagement, linking to future work, and follow up ideas. Experienced teachers who are feeling the need to change tactics might consider these simple techniques to facilitate smoother transitions in their literacy instruction."
-Reviewed by Darryn Diuguid, teacher at Saint Louis University in the Department of Educational Studies, for Education Book Reviews

"She presents a practical text for primary teachers on how to teach early writing and reading simultaneously, to intertwine instruction in the two processes of literacy. The text contains 50 mini-lessons, organized by their classroom function, to help users teach foundational literacy skills during writer's workshop or whole-class and small-group reading instruction."
— Book News Inc., Portland, OR

"Teaching Early Writing and Reading Together, written up by Connie Campbell Dierking, takes mini-lessons and brings K-2 literacy instruction together. I loved that I found where each of my children are within the alphabetic principle, spelling, reading, and writing. This helps out tremendously; now I know which mini-lessons in the book will work best for each child. This book has taught me how to teach a writing/reading workshop and both the kids have their very own writing folder now. I have found that even though they are in two separate grades, they love working together as partners. I think this is the only time of the day that they actually get along. I am going to continue using this book as we move on through the school year."
— Ang, Just an Army Wife and Just a Mommy blog, http://justanarmywifejustamommy.blogspot.com (October 2009)